Attacks by the Helicoverpa armígera caterpillar observed shortly after soybean sowing, in the states of Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso and Goiás, put producers and researchers on alert. According to industry sources, the main concern is the possible proliferation of the pest, which has already caused billions in losses to the oilseed, right in the initial cycle of the crop. In Mato Grosso do Sul, for example, according to experts, populations of Helicoverpa armígera appeared in areas of Chapadão and Mato Grosso, around Primavera do Leste.
The key recommendation made by agronomists to producers at this time is to correctly monitor crops and identify the need to control the pest through the application of specific products.
For the MT Foundation researcher, Lucia Vivan, at the current stage of the crops, it is possible to control Helicoverpa based on the application of baculovirus or biological pesticides. “We still have some time because soybeans are just beginning. But it is important for producers to monitor their areas and conclude, later on, whether there will be a need to incorporate chemical insecticides into baculovirus management”, reinforces the entomologist.
The researcher at Ceres Consultoria in Primavera do Leste, Guilherme Almeida Ohl, understands that baculoviruses are currently “the best insecticides we have, because after eliminating the caterpillars they spread viruses in the crop and thus control other generations of pests”. Ohl is another researcher who believes that in the current vegetative stage of soybeans, control of Helicoverpa can only be done by applying baculovirus.
He notes, however, that baculoviruses have only not increased among producers' management options, until today, due to deficiencies in distribution logistics and market access to products. For the Australian-American AgBiTech, the largest baculovirus manufacturer in the world, in Brazil for four years, the solution to these obstacles is well underway through investments in expanding the offer and in the continuous delivery of high technology in the area.
“Last harvest, our baculoviruses treated 500 thousand hectares, a relevant mark for these inputs in Brazil”, highlights Marcelo Giuliano, commercial director at AgBiTech. According to Giuliano, the expectation is that in the 2019-20 harvest the company's baculoviruses – currently a total of six products – will reach the historic mark of 2 million hectares treated. “We invested heavily to be the main player in the sector in Brazil”, emphasizes Adriano Vilas Boas, general manager of AgBiTech in Latin America.
Researcher Germison Tomquelski, from the Chapadão Foundation, reports that the presence of Helicoverpa in the initial planting phase has been common in the Chapadão region. Even so, he points out, controlling the pest is a necessary measure given the damage it can bring to the producer.
“The baculoviruses have worked very well, initially eliminating the caterpillars. The arrival and positioning of these products was a paradigm shift. They already fit into the Brazilian producer’s management tools”, highlights Tomquelski. The researcher also highlights that given the current weather conditions in Mato Grosso do Sul, with some days having rain and others not, caterpillar outbreaks tend to be more intense in the State.
Source: Notícias Agrícolas
